Vise grip pliers

ABSTRACT

Vise grip pliers are provided with an improved quick-action adjustment for the operating handle fulcrum bar, consisting of a transversely serrated rack on an inner surface of the jaw handle member, a mating serrated block pivotally connected to the end of the fulcrum bar and movable lengthwise of the serrated bar, a control tab on the outside of the handle member rigidly connected through the handle member to the serrated block, and a spring biasing the control tab and the serrated block outwardly, the latter into position-fixing engagement with the serrated bar, disengagement for movement lengthwise of the bar being effected by thumb pressure on the tab and sliding it lengthwise of the handle to a selected position. A fine adjustment is provided by movably mounting the rack on the handle member and controlling the movement of the rack with an eccentric cam.

United States Patent 1191 I Helms 1 1 Feb. 26, 1974 i 1 VlSE GRIP PLIERS [76] Inventor: Hosea W. Helms, 7750 Bartold Apt.

87, Maplewood, Mo. 63143 [22] Filed: June 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 262,789

Primary ExaminerJames L. Jones, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F. Travers Burgess [57] ABSTRACT Vise grip pliers are provided with an improved quickaction adjustment for the operating handle fulcrum bar, consisting of a transversely serrated rack on an inner surface of the jaw handle member, a mating serrated block pivotally connected to the end of the fulcrum bar and movable lengthwise of the serrated bar, a control tab on the outside of the handle member rigidly connected through the handle member to the serrated block, and a spring biasing the control tab and the serrated block outwardly, the latter into positionfixing engagement with the serrated bar, disengagement for movement lengthwise of the bar being effected by thumb pressure on the tab and sliding it lengthwise of the handle to a selected position. A fine adjustment is provided by movably mounting the rack on the handle member and controlling the movement of the rack with an eccentric cam.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures VISE GRIP PLIERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to improved vise grip pliers and consists particularly in a quick-action adjustment for such pliers.

2. The Prior Art For adjusting the fulcrum bar, conventional vise grip pliers utilize a screw extending axially of the handle, with its knurled head protruding from the end of the handle and a seat on its other end engageable with the end of the fulcrum bar, adjustment being effected by turning the screw. If a large adjustment is necessary, it is accordingly time consuming.

SUMMARY The invention provides simple 'and inexpensive means for effecting rapid adjustment of the fulcrum bar of vise grip pliers. Such adjustment is effected in accordance with the invention by the use of a rack and pawl mechanism in which the pawl is a serrated block pivotally attached to the end of the fulcrum bar.

The invention also provides a supplementary fine adjustment for the fulcrum bar, comprising a manually rotatable eccentric cam for moving the rack along the jaw handle member to take up slack between adjacent serrations.

It accordingly follows that an object of the invention is to provide a more rapidly adjustable pliers of the vise grip type. Another object is to provide vise grip pliers in which the rapidity of the adjustment is effected by using a rack and pawl adjustment mechanism. A further object is to provide a fine adjustment means to supplement the rack and pawl adjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially sectionalized, of pliers embodying the invention in an open positron.

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but showing the pliers in closed position.

FIG. 3 isa fragmentary top view of the handle member on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the handle member and fulcrum bar.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 but showing a modified form of the invention.

F IG. 7 is a top view, partially sectionalized, along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The numeral 1 denotes an elongated handle member of channel cross section formed with a fixed jaw 3 on its forward end. A movable jaw 5 is of generally triangular shape with one end of its rear side projecting into the hollow interior of the forward end portion of handle member 1 and pivotally secured therein by pin 9 and the other end 11 of its rear side projecting into and pivotally connected by pin 13 to operating handle 15, which is also of channel cross section.

Rearwardly of pivot pin 13, a bar 16 is pivotally connected at one end 17 to operating lever 15 by a pin 19 which forms a fulcrum for operating lever 15. The

other end 18 of bar 16 extends into handle member 1, to which itis secured for movement lengthwise of the handle member to vary the position of fulcrum pin 19 in accordance with the thickness of the work to be gripped between jaws 3 and 5.

For selectively positioning end 18 of fulcrum bar 16 lengthwise of handle member 1, end 18 of the fulcrum bar is pivotally secured by pin 27 between transversely spaced ears projecting from the bottom surface of mov able block 31, the upper surface of which is formed with transverse serrations as at 33.

Intermediate the ends of handle member 1, an elongated rack 35 formed with transverse serrations 37 is secured to the inner surfaceof handle member web 39 and is positioned therein to matingly engage serrations 33 of block 31 and thereby secure block 31 against movement longitudinally of handle member 1.

. To releasably hold block 31 in engagement with rack 35, the rack and handle member web 39 are formed with registering longitudinal slots 41, and a channel section finger tab member 43 located outwardly of web 39 is rigidly connected to block 31 by a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid connecting elements in the form of screws 45 which pass through slots 41. Outwardly of web 39 a spring seat plate 47 apertured to permit the passage therethrough of screws 45 is slidably mounted on the outer surface of web 39 and seats a pair of coil springs 49 which surround screws 45 and the upper ends of which bear against the inner surface of finger tab 43 thereby biasing the finger tab outwardly and, through screws 45, similarly biasing block 31 into engagement with rack 35, thus preventing undesired longitudinal movement of block 31 and with it fulcrum bar 16 with respect to handle member 1. With this arrangement, if it is desired to adjust the position of fulcrum bar 16, an adjustment can be readily made by pressing downwardly on finger tab 43 to compress springs 49 and thereby disengage block 31 from rack 35, and the finger tab can be moved longitudinally of the handle member to cause coresponding movement of block 31 and with it of pivot pin 27 and the corresponding end 18 of fulcrum bar 16. When the desired movement is completed, the finger tab may be released, permitting springs 49 to return block 31 into full engagement with rack 35, thereby locking block 31 and fulcrum bar 16 in the desired position.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, rack 35a is longitudinally slidably mounted on the inner surface of web 39a of handle member la, and to effect minor adjustments smaller than the pitch of the individual serrations, a cylindrical member 51 is rotatably joumaled in web 39a and has an eccentric cam portion 53 received in a transversely elongated aperture 54 in rack 35a so that upon rotation of member 51 cam portion 53, through engagement with either of the transverse surfaces of rack 350 which define the ends of aperture 54, will cause corresponding longitudinal movement of rack 35a. To effect such rotation, cylindrical member 51 is formed with an outwardly projecting knurled knob 55 and to secure rack 35a against the inner surface of web 39a the cylindrical memberis formed with an enlarged head 57 underlying adjacent portions of the rack. A back-up block 59 is secured to the inner surface of web 390 in abutting relation with head 57. At the other end of the rack a portion of the metal of the web cut out to form slot 410 therein is bent inwardly as at 59a to form a tab underlying that end of the rack. In operation, a coarse adjustment ofth e fulcrum bar may be made by moving block 31 along rack 35a as described above, after which a fine adjustment to move movable jaw 5 into close engagement with the work may be made by rotating eccentric cam portion 53.

The pliers may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. Pliers comprising a handle member having a fixed jaw, a movable I jaw pivotally attached to the handle member for coaction with the fixed jaw, an operating handle pivotally connected with the inner portion of the movable jaw and being movable toward or away from the handle member, a bar pivotally connected at one end to the operating handle, an elongated serrated rack on an inside surface of said handle member and held against substantial movement longitudinally thereof, a matingly serrated block pivotally secured to the other end of said bar inwardly of said rack, means holding said block in releasable engagement with said rack, and means for manually disengaging said block from said rack and moving said block longitudinally of said rack and said handle whereby to change the position of said bar lengthwise of said handle member, said holding means being resilient and said disengaging means comprising a finger tab outward of said handle, said handle being formed with a slot lengthwise of said rack, an element extending through said slot and rigidly securing said block to said finger tab, said finger tab being spaced outwardly from said handle and being movable longitudinally thereof whereby to be selectively movable toward and along said handle member to oppose said resilient means and disengage said block from said rack and move said block longitudinally of said rack to selected positions with respect thereto.

2. Pliers comprising a handle member having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivotally attached to the handle member for coaction with the fixed jaw, an operating handle pivotally connected with the inner portion of the movable jaw and being movable toward or away from the handle member, a bar pivotally connected at one end to the operating handle, a serrated rack on an inside surface of said handle member, a matingly serrated block pivotally secured to the other end of said bar, means holding said block in releasable engagement with said rack, and means for manually disengaging said block from said rack and moving said block longitudinally of said rack whereby to change the position of said bar lengthwise of said handle member, said rack being mounted on said handle for limited movement longitudinally thereof, there being manually actuable means on said handle for shifting said rack precise distances lengthwise of said handle.

3. Pliers according to claim 2 wherein said shifting means comprises a cylindrical portion journaled in said handle member and an eccentric portion engaging a transverse surface portion of said rack.

4. Pliers according to claim 3 wherein said shifting means includes a finger actuable portion positioned outwardly of said handle member.

5. Pliers according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring surrounding said connecting element and compressed between the inner surface of said finger tab and the outer surface of said handle.

6. Pliers according to claim 5 wherein there are a pair of said connecting elements and springs mounted thereon spaced apart lengthwise of said block and said finger tab.

7. Pliers according to claim 6 wherein said handle member is of generally channel cross section with its web outwardly disposed, said rack being mounted against the inner surface of said channel web.

8. Pliers according to claim 7 wherein said rack is mounted on said handle for limited movement longitudinally thereof, there being manually actuable means on said handle for shifting said rack precise distances lengthwise of said handle, said shifting means comprising a transverse surface of said rack and a cam engageable with said rack transverse surface and rotatably mounted on said handle member.

9. Pliers according to claim 8 wherein said cam is of circular shape and is eccentrically journaled on said handle member.

10. Pliers according to claim 9 wherein said cam has an operating member protruding from said handle. 

1. Pliers comprising a handle member having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivotally attached to the handle member for coaction with the fixed jaw, an operating handle pivotally connected with the inner portion of the movable jaw and being movable toward or away from the handle member, a bar pivotally connected at one end to the operating handle, an elongated serrated rack on an inside surface of said handle member and held against substantial movement longitudinally thereof, a matingly serrated block pivotally secured to the other end of said bar inwardly of said rack, means holding said block in releasable engagement with said rack, and means for manually disengaging said block from said rack and moving said block longitudinally of said rack and said handle whereby to change the position of said bar lengthwise of said handle member, said holding means being resilient and said disengaging means comprising a finger tab outward of said handle, said handle being formed with a slot lengthwise of said rack, an element extending through said slot and rigidly securing said block to said finger tab, said finger tab being spaced outwardly from said handle and being movable longitudinally thereof whereby to be selectively movable toward and along said handle member to oppose said resilient means and disengage said block from said rack and move said block longitudinally of said rack to selected positions with respect thereto.
 2. Pliers comprising a handle member having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivotally attached to the handle member for coaction with the fixed jaw, an operating handle pivotally connected with the inner portion of the movable jaw and being movable toward or away from the handle member, a bar pivotally connected at one end to the operating handle, a serrated rack on an inside surface of said handle member, a matingly serrated block pivotally secured to the other end of said bar, means holding said block in releasable engagement with said rack, and means for manually disengaging said block from said rack and moving said block longitudinally of said rack whereby to change the position of said bar lengthwise of said handle member, said rack being mounted on said handle for limited movement longitudinally thereof, there being manually actuable means on said handle for shifting said rack precise distances lengthwise of said handle.
 3. Pliers according to claim 2 wherein said shifting means comprises a cylindrical portion journaled in said handle member and an eccentric portion engaging a transverse surface portion of said rack.
 4. Pliers according to claim 3 wherein said shifting means includes a finger actuable portion positioned outwardly of said handle member.
 5. Pliers according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring surrounding said connecting element and compressed between the inner surface of said finger tab and the outer surface of said handle.
 6. Pliers according to claim 5 wherein there are a pair of said connecting elements and springs mounted thereon spaced apart lengthwise of said block and said finger tab.
 7. Pliers according to claim 6 wherein said handle member is of generally channel cross section with its web outwardly disposed, said rack being mounted against the inner surface of said channel web.
 8. Pliers according to claim 7 wherein said rack is mounted on said handle for limited movement longitudinally thereof, there being manually actuable means on said handle for shifting said rack precise distances lengthwise of said handle, said shifting means comprising a transverse surface of said rack and a cam engageable with said rack transverse surface and rotatably mounted on said handle member.
 9. Pliers according to claim 8 wherein said cam is of circular shape and is eccentrically journaled on said handle member.
 10. Pliers according to claim 9 wherein said cam has an operating member protruding from said handle. 